“I know, honey. I will next year. I’ll come with you and your little sister. Don’t forget, it’ll be her very first Christmas.”
Jolene hugged her quickly. “Okay.”
Ten minutes later, Rachel was sitting in the office, drinking a bottle of apple juice as Beth finished her paperwork.
“I doubt they’ll be long,” Beth told her. “The trees there are gorgeous, especially with this afternoon’s snow.”
“I hope Bruce and Jolene don’t go overboard and choose the biggest tree on the farm.”
Beth chuckled. “Jeff knows that people look at a tree and have no idea how large it is until they try to get it in the house. He’ll keep them realistic.”
“Oh, good. Jolene loves Christmas.” Rachel leaned back in her chair. “I consider this our first real Christmas as a family. We were married last year but I was so busy cleaning and moving that it didn’t feel very Christmassy.”
“There seem to be a lot of firsts for your family,” Beth said gently.
“I agree. It hasn’t been a smooth transition for us, but everything’s come together in the past couple of weeks.”
“I’m glad,” Beth said. She wasn’t entirely sure what Rachel meant. Busy though she’d been, when the Peytons originally came for their tree, Beth couldn’t help noticing the tension between Rachel and Jolene. The change in attitude, particularly on Jolene’s part, was encouraging.
Twenty minutes later, the two ATVs roared into the yard. As soon as the engine was shut off, Jolene leaped off the back of her father’s vehicle and raced toward Rachel.
“We found the most beautiful tree,” she said excitedly. “It’s just perfect.”
“Where is it?” Rachel asked, laughing at Jolene’s unabashed enthusiasm.
“You should’ve seen her,” Bruce said, joining them. “Jolene was like a rabbit, hopping from one tree to the next.”
“Dad, you’re embarrassing me,” the girl protested, but not too vigorously. In fact, it looked as if a smile was permanently affixed to her face.
“Exactly where is this wonderful, perfect Christmas tree?” Rachel asked again.
“Jeff’s going back in the pickup for it now,” Bruce explained. He reached into his pocket for his wallet. “While he’s doing that, I’ll pay for the tree and get out the rope so we can tie it to the top of the car.”
“When we take it home, we’re all going to decorate it together,” Jolene said happily.
“My girls and I do that,” Beth told her. “I always decorate several trees, but I leave one undecorated so the four…three of us can do it together once they’re home from college.”
Jolene looked at her father and Rachel. “Will you wait for me when I’m in college, too?”
“You bet,” Rachel said, raising one thumb.
That seemed to satisfy the teenager. “It won’t be that long, you know.”
“No need to rush it,” Bruce commented.
The phone rang, and since Jeff was busy, Beth grabbed it. “Cedar Cove Tree Farm,” she said. “Beth speaking.”
“Oh, Beth, I’m so glad I caught you.”
It was her friend, Grace Harding, the head librarian who’d adopted a golden-retriever mix from the previous batch of puppies. She sounded harried.
“What can I do for you, Grace?” Beth asked.
“We need a small tree.”
“How small?”
“One that’ll fit in a hotel room. It’s for a family who just arrived in town. Friends of ours.”
“Sure. I can have Jeff cut one for you and deliver it myself.”
“Oh, would you? I know this is last-minute, but these are two special friends who once rented our house on Rosewood Lane. That was years ago—but Ian’s in the navy and it looks like they’re moving back. They have two children. They’re only here for a few days, but I can’t bear the thought of them spending Christmas in Cedar Cove without a tree.”
“I’m on it,” Beth said. “Don’t worry, I’ll see to everything, including lights and decorations. Shall I bring it to your place?”
“Yes, please. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You already have,” Beth said. Replacing the phone she looked at Bruce. “Now, I don’t suppose I could interest you in adopting a puppy?”
“A puppy?” Jolene perked right up. “Could we, Dad? Rachel? Could we?”
Bruce shrugged uncomfortably. “I don’t think so, sweetheart. With the baby coming and everything…”
“What kind of puppy?” Rachel asked, reaching for Bruce’s hand.
“They’re a Labrador mix. They’re all black and extremely cute. You could have the pick of the litter.”
Jolene clasped her hands and turned pleading eyes to her father.
Bruce held Rachel’s gaze and after a moment nodded. “But remember, Jolene, you’re responsible for training and taking care of the puppy.”
“I will, Dad, I promise. I’ve always wanted a dog! I want a girl and I’m going to name her Poppy.”
“Poppy’s a good name,” Rachel said.
“I can help with the training,” Beth offered, leading all three of them to the laundry room. It didn’t take Jolene long to choose the puppy she wanted.
One down, nine to go.
Two
Earlier in the month, Grace had been pleasantly surprised to get a phone call from Cecilia and Ian Randall, who were stationed in San Diego. They phoned again once they got into town.
“Would it be possible for Ian and me to stop by and visit?” Cecilia asked.
“Cecilia, of course! How are you? I hoped I’d get a chance to see you and Ian and the kids.” Grace had a hundred questions. The young couple had always been close to her heart, and she was thrilled at the prospect of having them back in the area.
“Remember I told you the navy transferred Ian back to Bremerton?” Cecilia said. “He’s going to be working in the shipyard instead of on the aircraft carrier. Cedar Cove feels like home to us, so we’re really happy about coming back.”
“That’s wonderful!” The Randalls reminded Grace of when she and her first husband, Dan, had purchased their house almost forty years ago. They’d been young, too, with a child and another on the way. Maryellen was a toddler and Grace had been pregnant with Kelly, and 204 Rosewood Lane had been their first real home. In fact, Grace had lived in that house most of her adult life. She’d raised her children there, buried her husband and learned to deal with life as a widow all on Rosewood Lane. The place held a great deal of sentimental value for her and she hadn’t been able to let it go, even after marrying Cliff Harding. So she’d decided to rent it out.
The Randalls had been ideal tenants, but the navy had transferred them all too soon. Over the years, Grace had seen a number of renters come and go. Faith Beckwith had resided there for a while; she’d had a difficult time with break-ins perpetrated by the tenants preceding her. That was long past now and the culprits were behind bars, thanks to Sheriff Davis. The most recent renters had left, and the house was sitting empty.
“I think I mentioned that Ian has leave over Christmas. We flew out here yesterday. We came to see